The State of Dentistry: No, I don't mean an actual U. S. state, but the condition of the medical business. My son lost a large filling in a molar a few days ago, and it's very painful.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

No, I don't mean an actual U. S. state, but the condition of the medical business. My son lost a large filling in a molar a few days ago, and it's very painful. He was able to get to the dentist for a "quick look." As they always seem to say, "Root canal, $1,900." That was out of the question, so he wants to have it pulled. Their "tooth puller" is there only on Wednesdays, so he has to wait from Tuesday this week till next Wednesday afternoon to have it pulled. This is a very large practice with about a dozen rooms set up for dentistry. I guess they need more dentists to fill those rooms. I can never make an appointment for a cleaning and checkup because they're always booked up months in advance. It's time to switch dentists.

Calling around, no other dentist can do anything but look at the tooth. You'd think they would be able to fit a painful emergency into their schedule. It's not like they'd be working for free or doing him a favor. They'd be getting a couple hundred dollars for a few minutes work.

Hopefully, that's my last rant for the day.

grillmaster5062

Look and see if there is a dental school or college in the area. My parents are retired and on a fixed income so they have all of their dental work done at the U - M dental school. It's worth a shot.

tracs101 Loc: Huntington NY

Made an appointment two days in advance with an oral surgeon to pull 4 wisdom teeth. He did the job in 15 minutes ( I was out cold) including stitching me up with dissolving thread, so, no follow up appt. There was NO pain what-so-ever. He also extracted $2,000.00 from me for his work, but did a great job. Lots of oral surgeons in Long Island NY.

Robert R Loc: Indianapolis and Naples

Sorry for your bad experience. When I was in practice I told my receptionist that patients in pain were to be seen and treated the same day. Your story reminds me of the TV ad, "I am only a dental monitor". You need a new dental practice, your son should expect better treatment.

Lens Cap Loc: The Cold North Coast

Jerry41, I had a similar experience. My dentist of 20 some years could not fix my chipped tooth (a molar). they tried filling it 2x, that didn't work. I said I need a cap. They sent me to another dentist who told me the tooth was rotten and decayed. He said I need a implant at about $7000. I said I need a cap. He said a cap might only last 10 years, I said I might not live ten years. I went to another dentist. 4 Months later I got my tooth capped. It pays to look around!

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

My brother just got an appointment first week in April to have all of his teeth removed,temp plates for a few months,I believe 4 implants to anchor the 2 plates to. He is 55.

$48,000.

I'll do soup and hash first...

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Lens Cap wrote:

Jerry41, I had a similar experience. My dentist of 20 some years could not fix my chipped tooth (a molar). they tried filling it 2x, that didn't work. I said I need a cap. They sent me to another dentist who told me the tooth was rotten and decayed. He said I need a implant at about $7000. I said I need a cap. He said a cap might only last 10 years, I said I might not live ten years. I went to another dentist. 4 Months later I got my tooth capped. It pays to look around!

Funny

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

DaveO wrote:

My brother just got an appointment first week in April to have all of his teeth removed,temp plates for a few months,I believe 4 implants to anchor the 2 plates to. He is 55.

$48,000.

I'll do soup and hash first...

I'd have to apply for a whole new batch of credit cards.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

grillmaster5062 wrote:

Look and see if there is a dental school or college in the area. My parents are retired and on a fixed income so they have all of their dental work done at the U - M dental school. It's worth a shot.

Nope. Nothing nearby.

sarge69 Loc: Ft Myers, FL

I had 7 teeth left on the bottom at 74 yrs old. Went to a local dentist advertising lower rates. He pulled all 7 teeth and put in a temporary plate immediately. After a few months for healing I went in and he drilled four holes in my jaw and screwed in 4 titanium screws and stuck the modified plate directly on. It took 4 visits to adjust the plate where it was rubbing and causing pain. I'm thinking the entire cost was less then 6,000.00 with some dental plan assistance.

The bottom plate is great and eat anything without it moving or coming out. I used to hear my dad bitch and moan about his normal bottom denture and didn't want to go through years of that myself.

Sarge69

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

jerryc41 wrote:

I'd have to apply for a whole new batch of credit cards.

He checked two other providers and it seems to be the going price for the particular procedure. Quick as I did that my tongue would probably fall off...

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

sarge69 wrote:

I'm thinking the entire cost was less then 6,000.00 with some dental plan assistance.

A good juicer would have cost a fraction of that.

sarge69 Loc: Ft Myers, FL

Was a friend who went to Mexico and got great dentures and service. Really cheap.

Sarge69

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

jerryc41 wrote:

A good juicer would have cost a fraction of that.

I know a couple real juicers and I think there are a few on the Hogg.

Bob Smith Loc: Banjarmasin

That's where you Americans are unfortunate in not having a national health service.